Mark Leather on pre-season preparations

Club's head of performance offers an insight into Wanderers' preparations for the season ahead

Wanderers’ first team squad were put through their paces late last week as the team prepared to return for full pre-season training.

With the start of the 2014/15 SkyBet Championship season on the horizon, the players were at Euxton with a number of fitness tests conducted by the club’s head of performance Mark Leather and his team.

Varying from physical assessments to test the players’ movement, agility and coordination, the players were subjected to body weight, body fat and blood tests ahead of a taxing pre-season campaign.

“It was a two-day testing of players done internally at the club and one which is generally a follow-on from what they’ve done during the course of the close season,” explained Leather.

“Since the season finished, we’ve brought a number of players in for sessions which are specifically tailored for them so the off-season has been more individualised this summer.

“This could depend on a number of factors such as injuries sustained, the number of games played throughout last season."

He continued: “We have a rough idea of where all the players are up to before they come back for pre-season training, and then we’ve had these two days which were split up into four or five little tests each day which allow us to be aware of the work each player needs to do to make sure they are ready for the season ahead.

“We feel it is also important to find out how each player works. It is not a psychology test, but simply a way of letting us know how the players learn best.

“Once we know, we can tailor their plan to suit them and therefore get the best out of them on the pitch.

“We’re big believers in using modern technology, but we like to combine that with the basics as football has been played in the same way for hundreds of years and we feel like we have a happy medium here at Bolton Wanderers.”

Fans can still book their seat for the upcoming campaign and spread the cost interest free over nine months - simply sign up before July 6 to take advantage.

For more information on season tickets, please visit Bolton Central in person, phone 0844 871 2932 or CLICK HERE to be directed to the club’s ticketing website.